On May 25, WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Kate Martin of the Las Vegas Aces faced each other for the first time in their professional careers. Martin tried to stay serious, but Clark had other plans.

“Man, she’s not very good at basketball, is she?” Clark quipped to the referee as he handed the ball to Martin, who couldn’t suppress a smile.

Later, it was Clark’s turn to smile. As the 2024 WNBA No. 1 draft pick realized she was about to face her closest friend and former teammate from Iowa, she couldn’t stop grinning. A photo of this moment went viral, adding to the collection of memories for these Midwesterners whose love for basketball has led them to an unexpected and exciting professional showdown.